Jennifer Bonner, the Portland, Ore.–based founder of MALL, a 2016 Next Progressives firm, has created a proposal to help Los Angeles address its residential crunch and "need for flexible, affordable Accessory Dwelling Units," according to MALL's project description. One of 14 prototypes commissioned by the Los Angeles ADU Standard Plan Pilot project, MALL's black-and-white stucco Lean-to ADU reinterprets local architectural motifs—such as stucco cladding and exaggerated false fronts—to create a flexible, compact dwelling suited to various terrains, such as flat yards or hillsides. Offering 515 square feet of living space and a 125-square-foot roof terrace, the project provides a full kitchen and mix of communal and private spaces.
“I like to think that Lean-to ADU would fit perfectly in the backyard of a ‘white house with black trim’—yet another trend popularized through [P]interest boards and home improvement shows,” Bonner said in the same release. “We are indifferent to style and believe this standard plan ADU looks great behind a range of single-family homes be it traditional, farmhouse, modern or Tudor." [MALL]
On Thursday, President Biden signed the historic $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act into law. Although Biden's "Build Back Better" bill (still in its drafting stage) usually gets singled out as the administration's main climate policy effort, the American Rescue Plan will have a significant impact on elements of U.S. climate policy, such as the nation's public transit agencies. The Atlantic dives into these impacts, unpacking how the bill will "revive a number of crucial, pandemic-hammered institutions central to the country’s climate response." [The Atlantic]
The Brick Industry Association named 41 winners of its 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards. Selected from 120 entries, the recipients include eight Best in Class winners. This tier of projects includes: U.S. Land Port of Entry in Columbus, N.M., by Richter Architects and brick manufacturer Summit Brick Company; University of Kansas Medical Center Health Education Building in Kansas City, Kan., by CO Architects and brick manufacturer Sioux City Brick; and Midland Campus, Curtin University in Perth, Australia, by Silver Thomas Hanley Architecture and Lyons Architecture and brick manufacturer Austral Bricks. [Brick Industry Association]
The New York Times has released a collection of Q+As with 10 women changing the landscape of their professions, which include agriculture, science, finance, and technology. Leading the way in architecture is Fernanda Canales, founder of the Mexico City–based Fernanda Canales Arquitectura. "I think we are still waiting to see what our cities will become when they are designed by women," Canales said in her Q+A. "It’s about involving half the population in design. When we incorporate more ideas, desires and priorities, our designs will be more complete." [The New York Times]
The United States may not be a monarchy, but it does have castles. Aiming to showcase different forms of fortresses around the country, the real estate marketplace HomeAdvisor has released an illustrated map of "American royalty." From Alaska's Palmer Castle to Wyoming's Star Valley Castle, HomeAdvisor found a castle in all 50 states, with some featuring quirks such as icicles and working moats. [HomeAdvisor]
What did early U.S. skyscrapers look like? ARCHITECT contributing editor Karrie Jacobs interviews Manhattan-based engineer Donald Friedman about his latest book, The Structure of Skyscrapers in America 1871-1900: Their History and Preservation (Association for Preservation Technology International, 2021) to learn more about the soaring harbingers. [ARCHITECT]
This week, AIA announced the winners of its 2020 Innovation Awards. Delayed a year due to COVID-19, the announcement honored the net-zero Catalyst Building, in Spokane, Wash., by Michael Green Architecture and Katerra, and BHoM (Buildings and Habitats object Model) Life Cycle Assessment Toolkit, Buro Happold's life cycle assessment tool. [ARCHITECT]
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Jennifer Bonner is based in Portland, Ore., not Boston.
